Oil filter wrench

ABSTRACT

An oil filter wrench has a band, a lever member, and a formed saddle-like anchor having a curved plate and upstanding ears which support a cross pin which functions as the fulcrum for the lever member when it is pulled to tighten the band about the filter can. The curved plate of the saddle-like anchor distributes the load over a correspondingly large surface area of the sidewall of the can, thereby avoiding crushing of the can under heavy torque loads.

United States Patent [1 1 McFarland et a1.

' 1111 3,838,615 1 Oct. 1, 1 974 OIL FILTER WRENCH [75] Inventors:Frederick R. McFarland; Walter L. Difienderier, both of Lancaster, Pa.

[73] Assignee: K-D Manufacturing Company,

Lancaster, Pa.

[22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 423,284

1,523,228 1/1925 Marke "I: ..:::8l/64X 24 II 2'; r

1,726,862 9/1929 Schustarich ..8l/64 3,728,916 4/1973 Brantley ..81/64Primary Examiner.lames L. Jones, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Paul &Paul [5 7] ABSTRACT An oil filter wrench has a band, a lever member, anda formed saddle-like anchor having a curved plate and upstanding earswhich support a cross pin which functions as the fulcrum for the levermember when it is pulled to tighten the band about the filter can. Thecurved plate of the saddle-like anchor distributes the load over acorrespondingly large surface area of the sidewall of the can, therebyavoiding crushing of the can under heavy torque loads.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures OIL FILTER WRENCH.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION loosen the installed filter can, and/or totighten a new filter can, sometimes causes the sidewall of the can tocrush inwardly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principle object of the present invention isto provide an improved oil filter wrench for truck or other heavy dutyuse which permits a large torque to be applied to the filter can withoutcrushing the can sidewall.

The foregoing object is achieved by providing an oil filter wrench whichincludes a saddle-like anchor of relatively large area which distributesthe load to a correspondingly large area of the sidewall of the can whenthe wrench lever pulls the band'tightly about the filter can.

'BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING- FIG. 1 is an end view showing the oilfilter wrench of the present invention encircling, but not yet tightenedabout, an oil filter can.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the oil filter wrench intightened position.

FIG. 3 is a view looking along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows theimproved oil filter wrench W. of the present invention encircling butnot yet tightened about an oil filter or other can C. As seen in FIG. 1,the wrench W includes three major components, namely, a band 10, ananchor 20, and a lever member 30. All of the components are metal,usually steel.

Anchor is a formed saddle-like member comprising an arcuate plate 21 anda pair of integral upstanding ears 22, one at each side of the crest ofthe plate 21. The curvature of plate 21 corresponds to that of thesidewall of the can C. The ears 22 support a pin'23 which extends acrossthe channel between the cars 22 at a spaced distance outside the plate21. Pin 23 is secured by a pair of lock rings 24.

Supported on pin 23 are the spaced-apart legs 31 of the lever member 30,and within the spread legs 31, on pin 23, is the loop 11' at one end ofthe steel band 10. The outer flat portions 32 of lever member areadjacent to each other and connected by a pair of rivets 33. A squarehole may preferably be provided in the portions 32 for receiving a pullbar, preferably a rachet tool T, indicated in phantom in the drawing.

As already described, one loop end 11 of the steel band 10 is connectedto the pin 23. The other loop end 12 is connected to a pin 34 whichextends between the spaced-apart legs 31 of the lever member 30. Pin 34may be secured as by the lock rings 36. The spreadapart legs 31, asviewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, are seen to be at an angle relative to theouter portion 32 of the lever member 30.

As illustrated, the width of the steel band 10 corresponds to the innerspacing between the spread legs 31 As already indicated, FIG. 1illustrates the oil filter wrench after it has been placed about the canC but before it has been tightened. To tighten the band 10 about the canC, the frame or lever member 30 is pulled, as by means of a cross barinserted through the hole 35 but preferably by a rachet tool T, shown inphantom in FIGS. 1 3. The direction of pull is counterclockwise, inFIGS. 1 and 2. When so pulled, the lever member 30 pivots about the pin23. The mechanism has an overcenter action, and as soon as pin 34 passesbeyond the radial plane of pin 23, the lever member 30 acquires a setposition which allows the rachet tool T to be rotated clockwise aboutthe square hole 35 to return the handle of tool T to a better pullposition, without having the lever member 30 return clockwise to itsinitial position.

The opposite ends of the arcuate plate 21 of the saddle-like anchor 20are preferably swaged or bevelled, as at 25, to allow the band C to bepulled tightly against the sidewall of the can C.

When the lever member 30 is pulled pivotally counterclockwise about thepivot pin 23 to tighten the band 10, the inward thrust on the sidewallof the can C, which in prior art'oil filter wrenches is concentrated atthe pivot point, is, in the improved wrench of the present application,distributed over the relatively large area of the curved anchor plate21, thereby decreasing very substantially the tendency of the sidewallto crush inwardly at the pivot point.

What is claimed is:

1. An oil filter wrench comprising:

a. a lever member, said lever member having a-l. a handle portion; a-2.a pair of spread-apart legs; b. a wrap-around band; c. a saddle-likeanchor, said anchor having c-l. a curved plate for engaging the sidewallof the oil filter or other container; 0-2. a pair of upstanding opposingears;

d. a cross pin between said ears for pivotally supporting the legs ofsaid lever member;

e. one end of said band being connected to said cross pin between saidlegs; and

f. means, including a second cross pin, supported between said legs atan upper point thereof for connection of the other end of said band.

2. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of saidcurved plate are bevelled.

3. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein said handle portion of saidlever member is provided with a hole for receiving a tool forfacilitating pulling of said lever member to tighten said band about theoil filter.

4. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein the width of said curved plateof said anchor is greater than the width of said band.

5. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein the curvature of said curvedplate corresponds to that of the sidewall of the oil filter.

6. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein legs are inclined at an anglerelative to the handle portion of said lever member.

1. An oil filter wrench comprising: a. a lever member, said lever memberhaving a-1. a handle portion; a-2. a pair of spread-apart legs; b. awrap-around band; c. a saddle-like anchor, said anchor having c-1. acurved plate for engaging the sidewall of the oil filter or othercontainer; c-2. a pair of upstanding opposing ears; d. a cross pinbetween said ears for pivotally supporting the legs of said levermember; e. one end of said band being connected to said cross pinbetween said legs; and f. means, including a second cross pin, supportedbetween said legs at an upper point thereof for connection of the otherend of said band.
 2. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein the oppositeends of said curved plate are bevelled.
 3. A wrench according to claim 1wherein said handle portion of said lever member is provided with a holefor receiving a tool for facilitating pulling of said lever member totighten said band about the oil filter.
 4. A wrench according to claim 1wherein the width of said curved plate of said anchor is greater thanthe width of said band.
 5. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein thecurvature of said curved plate corresponds to that of the sidewall ofthe oil filter.
 6. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein legs areinclined at an angle relative to the handle portion of said levermember.